Restoration
Tips from a Classic Car Junkie
- Chapter 1 – Vintage Car
Restoration
- Chapter 2 – Things You
Need
- Chapter 3 – Before You
Begin
- Chapter 4 – Types Of Cars
To Restore
- Chapter 5 – Interior
Restoration
- Chapter 6 – Body
Restoration
- Chapter 7 – Mechanical
Restoration
- Chapter 8 – Accessories
- Chapter 9 – Electrical
Components.
- Chapter 10 – Reassembly
- Chapter 11 – Where To Get
Help
- Chapter 12 – Care Of Your
Restored
Car
- Chapter 13 – Professional
Car
Restoration
- Chapter 14 - Car Shows
- Chapter 15 – Where To Get
Parts
- Chapter 16 – Twenty Quick
Tips For
Car Junkies
- Chapter 17 – Top Websites
For Car
Junkies
- Chapter 18 – The Car Is
Yours!
Do
you love old cars? Vintage cars are shown by collectors throughout the
country in shows and admired wherever they go. Owners of older cars
that have been virtually brought back to life have a double sense of
pride if they have performed the restoration themselves.
There is a difference between automobile restoration and simple
rebuilding. A rebuilt car can contain any type of part. True
restoration, consists of getting as much authenticity into the
automobile as possible, right down to the hub caps. The car will only
retain the value if it is restored back to its original condition, not
rebuilt into a different car. While “pimping” a car
may be popular at
the moment, a restored car is supposed to take us back in time, not
remind us of the present.
The process of car restoration encompasses not just the parts of the
car that can be seen by others, but also the mechanical components
should also be restored to their original condition.
Vintage car restoration is an art form unto itself. It takes people
years to restore classic, vintage cars properly.
Vintage automobile restoration involves the process of disassembling
the entire car, cleaning and either replacing or repairing the original
parts and then reassembling the vehicle. In order for the car to
maintain its original value, it must be restored with all of the proper
parts. In most cases, the engine must be completely rebuilt.
A person who wants to restore a vintage automobile should have
extensive knowledge about cars. Mechanical knowledge is as important as
doing body work to the car. In most automotive shops, body work and
mechanical work are two different trades. Someone who wants to restore
vintage cars has to know both aspects of car repair.
In addition, a car restoration includes the interior of the car. It is
usually more desirable to repair the upholstery, if at all possible.
Naturally, you will not be able to get a replacement seat for a 1955
Chevy, but you can recover the seats in materials that mirror those
used for a 1955 Chevy.
A car that is merely replaced with lookalike parts has not been
properly restored. A vintage car can be worth quite a bit of money to a
collector if it has been carefully restored to its original condition.
This usually means that you will have to do quite a bit of searching to
find parts and paint for your car.
Speaking of paint, you will want to use the original paint, if
possible, to repaint the car. There are many different places where you
can purchase the original car paint, or one as close as possible. We
will be discussing places to purchase parts and accessories later in
this book.
You need to have patience, time, space to work and money in which to
buy parts and materials.
Most important of all, you must have a love for cars. If you love old
cars and do not want to see them put to rest in the junk yard, this is
your opportunity to give them a new lease on life.
Although it can be costly, the restoration can be done over a period of
time to accommodate your budget. You will need a place to work on the
car and storage for the automobile when it is not in use.
There are business that practice the art of vintage car restoration.
They can generally restore a vintage auto in much less time than you
will be able. Those who collect automobiles or do not have the time or
inclination to work on the projects often send their cars to such
businesses.
Money can also be made by learning how to restore vintage automobiles.
Once you have successfully completed one restoration project, you may
find you miss your hobby. It is common for people who restore
automobiles to continue with this hobby throughout their lifetime. As
they can only use so many cars, they often sell those they no longer
want and make quite a profit.
Vintage automobile restoring is an art form unto itself. If you plan on
doing this as a weekend project, it can take years. It is, however,
well worth it. There is nothing like revving up the engine in the car
that you lovingly restored back to life.
Classic Car Restoration - A Challenging
Hobby
Classic
car restoration is a hobby that requires know-how, creativity and
patience to turn an old beater into a gorgeous show-stopper. Cars that
were made a lifetime ago require special care and upkeep. Rather than
letting them sit in the barn and rust, most classic vehicles need
repairs, attention and a lot of TLC.
Since most daily driver vehicles today are computerized and made from
corrosion-resistant metals and/or fiberglass, and even carbon-fiber in
some cases, classic vehicle restoration projects often require
hard-to-come-by body parts for inside and out. This is especially true
for cars whose manufacturers are no longer in business. Many vintage
car owners are forced to scab together parts, modify generic
replacement replicas or get lucky and find usable pieces from other
enthusiasts. Once the car lover has the parts, it can be tricky to
maintain or install, even working on the basics.
While many car parts were standardized in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, the
dealerships often exchanged optional and even stock features among
different cars on their lots in order to make a sale. Air conditioners,
for example, often arrived in the back seat in mid-'60s cars. The
dealership mechanics would do the installation. If a customer wanted
a/c on a car that didn't have it, the dealer would remove it from
another and add the option to the sales price, complete with on-site
installation. Fixing an a/c unit today without completely modifying the
entire system is impossible due to Freon issues and wiring problems.
While finding car parts is hard enough, fixing them or installing them
is even trickier when one is not well-versed in the inner workings of
that particular vehicle. From carburetors to wheel bearings,
step-by-step instructions are crucial to getting the car started and
moving versus leaving it in the barn. Repair manuals and do-it-yourself
restoration guides are the most reliable ways to lay the groundwork for
any auto project, especially the classics. While they may come with the
car from a benevolent seller, they are hard to find in regular
bookstores or the public library. In most cases, they are no longer
published and can only be found on websites where online car repair
manuals are sold or at swap meets for car enthusiasts. Without the
bible for the car's inner workings, completing a restoration is
difficult, if not impossible.
Chilton repair manuals can be found online, as well as Bentley or
Haynes auto repair manuals. Even the most knowledgeable car buff can be
stumped when it comes to classic cars. Internet forums can be helpful
as well, especially when the vehicle makes noises of unknown origin
that you can't seem to pinpoint. It is most helpful to find a website
catering to the same make as the project vehicle. For example, classic
Chevy lovers will be more able to help the owner of a Chevrolet
vehicle, than a Mopar or Ford owner. The risk with this is that while
they mean well, sometimes the advice is sketchy or incorrect.
While classic car restoration can be a fun hobby, it is most satisfying
for those with a lot of know-how, mechanically inclined friends or a
vehicle that has already been restored and needs only minimal upkeep.
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about online car
repair manuals, please visit http://www.themotorbookstore.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Harrell
